Package means



N. J. PILGER PACKAGE MEANS A ril 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7,1966 FIG-3 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS J PILGER BY i4 I ,4yz2Z4W, p

HIS ATTORNEYS A ril 23, 1968 N. J. PILGER PACKAGE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July '7, 1966 INVENTOR.

NICHOLAS J. PILGER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLGSURE This disclosure relates to a package construction comprisinga plastic overwrap material used to define exterior surface means andhaving score means in such plastic overwrap material to define anintegral controlled configuration tear-out strip therein which isreadily torn out to open the package construction.

This invention pertains to packaging means and more particularly toimproved packaging means having easyopen overwrap means and to animproved method of making such improved packaging means. I

Many packages in current use employ an overwrap made of plastic. Suchoverwrapped packages generally have increased durability and thusprovide better protection for the contents of such packages; however,such plastic overwraps are generally very difiicult to open. Thisdifiiculty is brought about because it is not a simple matter to graspand/ or effectively tear a portion of such plastic overwrap which willpermit it to be easily removed. Many packages on the market employ aseparate individual strip of material which is arranged under theplastic overwrap and has an end portion extending therefrom to enablethe plastic overwrap to be torn. Other packages are of the type whichdepend upon considerable deformation of the pack-age in order to snapopen such package along perforations or the like provided therein. Theformer of these techniques is of course expensive and requiresadditional equipment to achieve a relatively simple objective. Thesecond of these is not adaptable or capable of being used oncomparatively rigid container means of the type, for example, that wouldcontain products which cannot be mashed, bent, or otherwise deformed.Ithas also been proposed to tear open plastic overwraps in currentpackages relying on the structure of the plastic overwrap to assure thatthe tear is provided as desired. This latter proposed technique resultsin uncontrolled tearing and often results in merely a small fragmentbeing torn out of a plastic overwrap requiring that the user of thepackage resort to other means to tear away the overwrap to enable thepackage involved to be opened.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improvedplastic overwrap for container means which is economical and easy touse.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved plasticoverwrap for container means which does not require separate materialsto achieve easy tearing thereof.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved overwrap ofthe character mentioned having means as an integral part thereofenabling easy grasping and controlled separation or tearing of suchoverwrap.

Another feature of this invention is to provide controlled depth scoremeans in a thin Web of plastic material adapted to be used as anoverwrap, in which said score means defines a tear-out strip which iseasily grasped using grasping means in an end portion thereof and pulledto provide controlled separation of such plastic material.

Another feature of this invention is to provide controlled score meansin a plastic material adapted to be used as an overwrap for rigidcontainer means in which such score means can be formed and arranged inany desired manner and to define any desired configuration to define atear-out strip, whereby upon grasping a portion of such tear-out stripand pulling an opening is provided in the plastic material which iscontrolled as defined by such score means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a plastic materialhaving score means therein arranged to define a tear-out strip having atab portion as an integral portion thereof which is easily grasped toprovide easy controlled tearing of such tear-out strip.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofeconomically providing a tear-out strip as an integral part of a thinplastic material adapted to be used to overwrap substantially rigidcontainer means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofeconomically providing such a tearout strip having pull tab means as anintegral part of such tear-out strip to enable easy grasping andpulling.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofproviding a tear-out strip in a plastic sheet having any desiredconfiguration therein by employing a heated score-forming device toprovide score means in such sheet and thus enable controlled tearing ofa section as determined by such score means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved easy-openpackage utilizing a thin plastic material having the improved featuresdescribed above for overwrapping substantially rigid container means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a unique method offorming an overwrapped package which is easily opened.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofmaking such an improved package in which the score means provided insuch plastic material used as an overwrap is uniquely arranged toprovide a tear-out strip which is easily grasped and torn.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedeasy-open plastic overwrap material adapted to be used wtihsubstantially rigid container means and a method of making such improvedeasy-open plastic overwrap material having one or more of the novelfeatures of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown ordescribed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved package andan improved method of making such package using such improved easy-openplastic overwrap material.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a composite perspective view with parts shown schematicallyand in elevation illustrating a web of plastic material being suitablyscored and cut to define sheet means having an integral tearout stripand showing such sheet means being overwrapped and heat sealed aboutrigid container means to define an improved package having easy-openouter surface means.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22 of FIGURE Iparticularly showing the action of heated score-forming roll means usedto define a tearout strip in the plastic material.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved package ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragmentary portion of thepackage of FIGURE 3 illustrating the arrangement of the tear-out stripand pull tab means fixed to a terminal end portion of such tear-outstrip.

FIGURE 5 is a composite perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 showing aweb of plastic material being suitably scored and cut to define sheetmeans having score means within the central portion of such sheet meansdefining a tear-out strip of roughly pear-shaped configuration having anintegral U-shaped grasping portion which is cut through about theperiphery thereof and showing a rigid container being overwrapped sothat the major portion of the score means lies in one side wall and theU-shaped grasping portion lies in an adjoining side wall.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view .of the completedpackage of FIGURE particularly showing the arrangement of the scoremeans and U-shaped portion.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 showingseparate tab means fastened to the U-shaped portion.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating a rigid container beingplaced on sheet means similar to the sheet means of FIGURE 5 in whichthe U-shaped portion has spaced apart cuts coinciding with the outlinethereof and separate tab means fastened to such U-shaped portion foreasy grasping and pulling of the associated pearshaped tear-out strip.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 7showing the arrangement of the separate tab means of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating anotherembodiment of a package construction using sheet means defining theoutside layer thereof having a projecting U-shaped grasping portionassociated with tear-out strip means in such sheet means.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adaptable for providing improvedpackage means and methods of making such improved package means forproducts which are normally carried in comparatively rigid containermeans, for example, food products, facial tissues, cigarettes, or thelike, it is to be understood that the various features of this inventioncan be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide improvedpackage means for other uses as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-4an apparatus for and method of providing integral score means in a thinplastic overwrap material defining tear-out strip means is shown.Improved package means or package and the improved method of formingpackage 20 having such plastic overwrap material forming the outsidesurface thereof are also illustrated. The tear-out strip means definedby such score means is easily grasped and pulled to provide controlledseparation of the plastic overwrap material thus making it easier toopen package 20.

Package 20 comprises rigid container means or a rigid carton 21 which isoverwrapped by a plastic material cut to form generally rectangularsheet means 22 and such plastic sheet means forms the outside surfacemeans, also designated by the numeral 22, of package 20 in itsoverwrapped condition.

Score means is formed in each plastic sheet 22. In this embodiment ofthe invention a pair of score means or lines each designated by thenumeral 23 is provided. Score lines 23 are formed along sheet 22 inspaced apart parallel relation and define a tear-out strip 24 of uniformwidth between score lines 23.

Grasping means is provided for grasping a terminal end portion oftear-out strip 24 and in the illustration of FIG- URE 3 such graspingmeans comprises a terminal end portion 25 of strip 24 having pull tabmeans shown as a paper pull tab 26 fixed thereto. It will be apparentthat one end portion of te r-out strip 24 is e sily g ped 4 t to enablecontrolled separation of the plastic sheet 22 which is the outside orouter surface of package 20.

The plastic material used to form sheet 22 has score means formedtherein in a simple and economical manner as shown in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings. Such plastic material is preferably a heat-scalable plasticmaterial and is indicated by the numeral 28 prior to cutting thereof toform sheets 22. A web of such plastic material 28 isprovided in rollform as shown at 29 and unrolled from such roll and driven through thescoring means using suitable drive means.

The scoring means in this embodiment of the inven tion comprises heatedscore-forming roll means or a set of rolls designated generally by thenumeral 30. Set 30 comprises a pair of heated rolls each designated bythe numeral 31 and each having a heated knife-like edge 32 providing thescoring action. The knife-like edges are kept at a controlledtemperature by suitable heating of rolls 31 as by electrical heatingelements (not shown) or the like. A pair of back-up rolls eachdesignated by the numeral 33 is provided and arranged opposite acooperating roll 32. Each roll 33 in this embodiment has a concaveperipheral portion 34; however, in some applications such peripheralportion is kept fiat.

The set of scoring rolls 30 provide the previously mentioned spacedapart parallel score lines 23 defining team out strip 24. Score lines 23are preferably provided along the full length of plastic material 28 asit passes between score-forming roll means 30.

Means is provided for cutting the scored elongated web of plasticmaterial 28 into sheet means 22 of generally rectangular outline. Thecutting means comprises knife means illustrated as a rotary knife 34.Knife 34 has a pair of blades 35 which in this example are spaced apartdegrees on a rotary cylinder 36. Cylinder 36 is suitably rotated so asto bring blades 35 into cutting engagement with plastic web 28 as suchweb is moved under knife 34, to provide heat-scalable plastic sheets 22having the desired length.

The width of plastic web 28 and the length of each scored sheet 22 cutfrom web 28 is of course closely controlled and determined by the sizeof each carton 21. which is to be overwrapped by a plastic sheet 22.

The scoring means 30 provides parallel score lines 23 each having acontrolled depth, see FIGURE 2. This controlled. depth is accomplishedby controlling the spacing between cooperating rolls 31 and 33 and hencethe pres sure exerted by such rolls on web 28 passing therebetween. Thetype of heat-sealable plastic material normally used to wrap a carton 21is generally quite thin, it will be readily appreciated from FIGURE 2that the technique disclosed enables the forming of score lines to aprecisely controlled depth as illustrated at 37 and a width shown at 38defined by the transverse dimension of each edge 32.

While in this example of the invention a pair of spaced apart rolls 31have been illustrated which enable the for mation of a pair of scorelines 23, it will be appreciated that other scoring arrangements may beused to provide a controlled score pattern defining a tear-out strip inplastic web 28. For example,.a single heated roller covering an areaequivalent to the area between score lines 23 of this illustration maybe used to, in effect, reduce the thickness of plastic material engagedby its surface and thus define another form of tear-out strip.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings, sheet 22 is wrapped aroundcarton 21 so that opposite end por tions designated by the numerals 39and 40 of sheet 22 are placed in overlapping relation. Such overlappingof end portions 39 and 40 also places the terminal end portions oftear-out strip 24 in overlapping and aligned relation. With the sheet 22thus wrapped the overlapping end portions 39 and 40 are subjected to aheat environment as by engaging a heated roll 41 thereagainst. Theoverlapping portions are thus sealed together on opposite sides of strip24 as will be presently described. The ends of sheet 22 are alsosuitably sealed in overwrapping relation around corresponding ends ofcarton 21 in any desired manner.

Roll 41 is suitably supported for rotation on support means such as abracket assembly 42 adapted to move roll 41 toward and away from package40. Roll 41 has notch means 43 cut out therein so that as it rolls overpackage it does not come in contact with strip 24. This action assuresthat the opposite end portions, designated as portions and 25A, of strip24 are not fastened together over their overlapping aligned portions.Thus, the overlapped terminal end portion 25 comprising the previouslymentioned grasping means is easily grasped and pulled to thereby tearout strip 24 arranged around the entire periphery of package 26. Thissevering action divides the outer layer 22 into two sections 22A and 22Band upon pulling at least one of such sections away from package 20 itmay be easily opened.

In this example of the invention the grasping means comprises endportion 25 of tear-out strip 24 with tab 26 adhesively fixed thereto.Pull tab 26 has adhesive means on one surface thereof which adhere to anadjoining surface upon exerting pressure thereagainst. As seen in FIG-URE 1, a tab dispenser 45 is provided and such tab dispenser includes aroll of pressure sensitive tape 46 which is cut to length and urgedagainst end portion 25 of strip 24 as sheet 22 moves thereunder. Tabdispenser 45 is actuated in cooperation with the movement of sheet 22.

While apparatus has been shown and described for sealin g sheet 22 inposition without sealing the overlapped end portions 25 and 25A of strip24, it will be appreciated that means may be provided associating withsuch end portions to hold them apart during the sealing action of aheating roll similar to roll 41 or a heater bar which engages the entireoverlapped portions 39 and 40 across the full length of package 20. Suchmeans could be in a form of a pull tab means similar to tab 26 made ofpaper or the like which when inserted between the overlapped aligned endportions would prevent such end portions from being sealed together.Such similar tab would have adhesive means applied only over thatportion thereof adjoining the inside surface of portion 25 which ofcourse would provide suflicient fastening action to enable tearing outof the associated tear-out strip.

While FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate the use of pull tab 26,it will be appreciated, as stated earlier, that it is not absolutelynecessary that a separate pull tab means he provided. The grasping meansprovided by the terminal unsealed end 25 of strip 24 is adequate toenable easy grasping. Thus it is only necessary to insert an object suchas a fingernail under free terminal portion 25 and tear out strip 24 aseffectively as with the use of pull tab 26. Of course it is preferableto provide pull tab 26 for easier grasping and tearing out of strip 24.The tearing action along sheet 22 in every instance is controlled as toforce and direction as defined by the detailed arrangement of strip 24around carton 21.

It will be noted that in this embodiment of the invention a narrowribbon-like tear-out strip 24 is defined as an integral part of sheet22. Strip 24 extends completely across one dimension of sheet 22 andsuch sheet is wrapped around a package so that the end portion 25 iseasily accessible. It will be appreciated that strip 24 may be of anyconfiguration and need not necessarily begin at the edge of a sheet.This fact will be more readily appreciated in connection with anotherembodiment of the invention which follows.

The embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG- URES 5-9 showsintegral tear-out strip means provided in a web of plastic material 60.Such plastic material is cut to define generally rectangular sheet means62 and each is overwrapped around an associated container means shown asa carton 61. The improved method of forming such integral tear-out stripmeans as well as the improved package construction and method of makingsuch improved package construction are also presented. The tear-outstrip means of this embodiment of the invention is of a roughlypear-shaped configuration.

As shown in FIGURE 5 a web of transparent heatseala-ble plastic material60 is provided in roll form as illustrated at 59. Plastic web 60 ismoved under heated score-forming roll means illustrated as a scoringapparatus 63.

Scoring apparatus 63 comprises an elongated cylindrical roll 6-4suitably supported for rotation and having pattern means shown as aroughly pear-shaped scoring member 65 provided about its outercircumference. Scoring member 65 projects outwardly from suchcircumference sufficiently to precisely define a tear-out strip 66within such pattern as it engages web 60. Apparatus 63 is placedimmediately above web 60 in this example so that its scoring member 65only engages web 60 upon rotating roll 64 into scoring position.

The web of plastic material 66 is moved at a predetermined speed underroll 64 and such roll is rotated as determined by such speed and thedesired spacing of each tear-out strip 66 along web 60. Web 60 is thencut into rectangular sheets each having its tear-out strip.

Apparatus 63 includes a back-up roll 67 which is arranged opposite roll64 with web 60 therebetween. The spacing of rolls 64 and 67 iscontrolled as determined by the thickness of web 60 to providecontrolled pressure contact of heated roll 64 with its heated scoringmember 65 against web 60.

The scoring means formed by cylindrical roll 64 and its scoring member65 is arranged in a closed-loop path shown at 68 in FIGURE 5. Scoremeans 68, of course, corresponds exactly to member 65 and thus is alsopearshaped.

Score means 68 has a small roughly U-shaped tab portion 71 defininggrasping means and a major portion designated by the numeral 72. It willbe seen that the U-shaped tab portion is formed as an integral part ofthe plastic material.

Means is provided for cutting the elongated Web 60 to form the generallyrectangular sheet means or generally rectangular sheets 62 each havingthe roughly pear-shaped closed-loop score pattern 68 therewithin. Thecutting means comprises rotary cutting knife means or rotary knife 73having a cutting blade 74 which comes into cutting engagement as knife73 is rotated in cooperation with the movement of web 66 thereunder.Knife 73 cooperates with a back-up block 75 arranged immediatelythereunder so that web 60 can travel between knife 73 and block 75except when blade 74 is rotated into cutting position.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 5 of the drawings a rigid containermeans such as rigid carton 61, previously mentioned, is placed on anassociated sheet 62 with sheet 62 suitably supported on conveyor meansand such sheet is wrapped therearound to define the outside surface,also designated by the numeral 62, of the improved pack-age 76 thusformed. Package 76 is easily opened by tea-ring out strip 66 to removeoutside protective surface 62 and thus provide easy access to carton 61.The manner of overwrapping carton 61 using sheet 62 so that tear-outstrip is easily torn away will now be described.

In the example of this invention illustrated in FIG- URES 5 and 6 carton'61 is arranged on sheet 62 so that the major portion 72 of the arcuateclosed-loop score means 68 lies completely Within the outline of oneside wall of carton 61. Such one wall is illustrated as the top wall inFIGURE 6 and the generally U-shaped tab portion 71 is arranged in theadjoining front wall upon wrapping sheet 62 around its associatedcarton.

The roughly U-shaped portion 71 of score means 68 illustrated in FIGURE5 of the drawing is preferably cut through so that it hangs free. Thecutting action is provided by the corresponding portion of scoringmember 65 projecting outwardly a greater distance beyond the remainderof such scoring member and having a sharp edge to thus cut through web60. Thus it is seen that upon folding sheet 62 about carton 61 the tabportion 71 being essentially free projects outwardly beyond itsadjoining front wall thus making it easy to grasp. Upon grasping thegrasping means provided by the U-shaped tab portion 71, a controlledopening is provided in the outside surface means 62 of package 76 asdefined by tearing out tear-out strip 66.

FIGURE 7 of the drawings is a modification showing a pull tab 80adhesively fastened to U-shaped portion 71 making it easier to grasp andpull pear-shaped tear-out strip 66.

Another embodiment of the improved package construction is illustratedin FIGURE 8. In this embodiment the construction is identical to theconstruction of FIG- URES -7 with the exception that the U-shaped scoremeans defining a tab portion is not cut through about its entireperiphery and is designated by the numeral 71A. All other parts havebeen designated by the same numeral as before. U-shaped portion hasspaced apart cuts designated by the numeral 81A coinciding with theU-shaped outline thereof. Cuts 81A may be provided in any suitablemanner but are preferably provided by suitable means such as notches orthe like in the knife-like edge of the corresponding U-shaped portion ofmember 65. This embodiment of the invention assures that the U-shapedportion is held against its adjoining wall for better sealing action.

As seen in FIGURES 8 and 9 a pull tab 80 is also adhesively fastened toU-shaped portion 71A. Tab 80 is easily grasped and pulled to tear outthe associated tearout strip 66 as previously described.

While U-shaped portion 71 is arranged with its base along a corner ofpackage 76 in the illustrated embodiments of this invention, it will beappreciated that such U-shaped portion could lie entirely within theoutlines of a side wall of such package. Even with such U-shaped portionin the same plane as the remainder of the score means defining tear-outstrip 66 it is a simple manner to grasp such U-shaped portion and pullto provide a controlled tear or opening in outer wall 62. Obviously byusing a pull tab 80 in this latter described arrangement the graspingand pulling is much easier.

It may also be desirable in some applications to cut sheet means similarto sheet 62 and designated 628 so that its U-shaped portion 71B extendsbeyond the generally rectangular peripheral edge of such sheet ascontrasted to being within such edge as previously shown. With thisarrangement carton 61 maybe wrapped by sheet 62B so its tab remainsessentially free and projecting beyond an adjoining corner as shown inFIGURE 10. The base portion of projecting U-shaped portion is arrangedwith its base coinciding with the corner of the carton 61. Suchprojecting portion 718 is easy to grasp and provide a controlled openingin the sheet 6213 defining the outside layer of its associated package.

In all embodiments of this invention it will be seen that unique scoringmeans have been provided defining tearout strips having either anelongated and narrow or a rounded configuration, and means have beenprovided for grasping a terminal end portion of such tear-out strip soas to provide controlled separation in the plastic material as definedby such score means. This tearing of an opening in a heat-scalableplastic material in a controlled manner is easily and simply achievedwhile also being certain such opening may be accurately provided in anydesired configuration to suit the particular application. This is truewhether opening an overwrapped cigarette package or providing apear-shaped opening in a decorated box of facial tissues for easyinsertion of ones hand therethrough.

Terms such as bottom, top, side wall, front, and the like have been usedin this disclosure for ease of description and to describe the variousexamples of this invention as presented in the drawings and such termsare not to be considered as limiting the scope of this invention in anyway.

Thus it is seen that this invention provides a simple, inexpensive, andeasily opened plastic overwrapping for substantially rigid containermeans in which an integral tear-out strip having a controlledconfiguration is defined in such plastic overwrapping, such tear-outstrip also having integral grasping means for easy grasping and tearingthereof.

Further, this invention provides improved package means using suchplastic overwrapping and an improved method of making such improvedpackage means.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A package having easy-open outside surface means overwrappingsubstantially nondistortable container means comprising, a plasticmaterial overwrapping said container means and defining said outsidesurface means, score means in said plastic material defining an integraltear-out strip, said score means comprising a single score line arrangedin a closed-loop path, and separate pull tab means fastened to one endportion of said tear-out strip, said pull tab means being easily graspedand pulled to initiate and complete the severing of said tear-out stripin a controlled manner and along said score line to thereby open saidoutside surface means while keeping the shape of said container meansintact.

2. A package as set forth in claim 1 in which said plastic material iscut to define a substantially rectangular sheet means, said score meansis substantially pear-shaped with a markedly tapering configurationdefining a substantially U-shaped portion provided adjacent one endportion of said rectangular sheet means, said pull tab means is fastenedto said U-shaped portion, and said sheet means is wrapped around saidcontainer means so that said U-shaped portion and pull tab means arearranged adjoining a corner of said container means and kept fromadhering to adjacent surface means upon sealing said one end portionagainst an associated opposite end portion of said rectangular sheetmeans to enable easy grasping of said tab means and severing of saidtear-out strip.

3. A package as set forth in claim 2 in which said rectangular sheetmeans is wrapped and sealed in position about said container means withthe base of said U-shaped portion aligned along a corner of saidcontainer means and said Ushaped portion and attached pull tab extendingfreely along one exterior wall and the remainder of said integraltear-out strip extending over other exterior wall means of saidcontainer means to assure easier grasping and severing of said integraltear-out strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,286 1/1955 Gefiroy 229-66 X2,866,589 12/1958 Zacker 229-51 3,140,815 7/1964 Majesky 229-663,175,752 3/1965 Stabenow 229-66 X 3,186,628 6/1965 Rohde 229-513,255,949 6/1966 Buttery 229-51 3,273,302 9/1966 Walter 229-51 DAVID M.BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

